Method of constructing concrete magazines



July 20, 1943. L. P. CORBETTA METHOD OF QONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES 6 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Original Filed March 16, 1942 mwm LJDLUOT $9 Z74;

July 20; 19436 .L. P. CORBETTA METHOD. OF CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES Original- Filed March 16, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 20, 1943 P. CORBETTA 2,324,911

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES Original Filed March 16, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 WW & \N N E M I E HIIRS L. P. CORBETTA METHOD OF CONSTRUC'IING CONCRETE MAGAZINES July 20, 1943.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 16, 1942 July 20', 1943. L. P. CORBETTA METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original File d March 16, 1942 Ju ly 20, 1.943. L..P. CORBETTA METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES Original Filgd March 16, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 4 H mi m:

Patented July 20, 1943 METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING CONCRETE MAGAZINES Louis Peter Corbetta, Harrison, N. Y.

Original application This invention relates to a magazine, shelter or storage and to a method of and apparatus for constructing the same.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved dome-shaped magazine which is adapted to be constructed out of concrete and which may be covered with earth to the desired depth so as to permit concealment of the magazine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of constructing a magazine of this kind.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method of constructing a structure of this kind which includes the use of a fixed interior form engaging Within the entire inner surface of the structure, and an exterior form which engages about only a portion of the outer surface of the structure, the remaining portion of the exterior surface being shaped by means of a rotary frame structure.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will'be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the acocmpanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 434,946, filed March 16, Patent No. 2,296,984, dated September 29, 1942, for Magazine, method of construction and apparatus used in said method.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a domeshaped concrete structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, showing the structure covered with earth,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan of the device;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the concrete pouring and shaping frame structure used for constructing the device,

Figure 4A is a plan view of an extension of Figure 4 showing the opposite end of the frame structure,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section or" the frame structure showing the concrete forms in position for pouring of the concrete,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but on an enlarged scale,

March 16, 1942, Serial No. 434,940. Divided an 11 this application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 455,926

2 Claims. (01. 25-154) Figure 6A is a fragmentary vertical section of the lower portion of the structure shown in Figure 6,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line T-l of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint between the reinforcing beams,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tie structure used for connecting the upper and lower beams together,

Figure 11 is a vertical section of the ventilator in the upper portion of the structure,

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the line iZ-IZ of Figure 11, 1

Figure 13 is a detail side elevation of the ventilator hood,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of the adjusting means for the brace used for the supporting posts,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lower end of the supporting posts,

Figure 16 is a sectional viewtaken on the line i i-l6 of Figure 15, and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevation of the dolly at an end of the frame structure.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates generally a floor or bottom wall of a concrete housing structure constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. The concrete floor 20 may be reinforced in any suitable manner and as shownin Figure 2 is of circular configuration. The floor. 20 includes a central body 2| which is formed in the axial center thereof with a thickened body 22. The outer marginal portions .of the body 2| are also formed with a downwardly offset thickened portion 23, thereby providing an annular space 24 within which gravel or other loose material 25 is adapted to be positioned.

The surface of the groundvon which the'housing, to be hereinafter described, is positioned is preferably cut away for the desired depth and smoothed out as at 26 so as to provide a flat surface. The outer marginal portions of the fiat surface 26 are then recessed as at 21 in the form of an annular recess which is disposed below the offset portion 23 of the bottom wall 20. The positioning of the gravel or pervious' material 25 below the bottom 20 provides a means whereby the moisture may flow beneath the bottom wall 20, and this moisture will then flow downwardly into the annular well or space defined by the offset portion 21. a

The drain tile 28 is positioned below the bottom wall and extends entirely about he outer marginal portions of the bottom wall 20. The tile 28 may be extended by means of an inclined tile 29 Which communicates with a well 30 positioned in spaced relation to the bottom wall 20. The bottom wall 20 on the upper side thereof and inwardly: of the outer marginal portions thereof is providedwith a drain groove 31 which may be connected with the drain tile 28 by means of a,

duct 32.

A dome-shaped housing generally designated as 33 is mounted on the upper side of the bottom wall 20 and has a configuration circular in plan and is of a diameter substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the bottom wall 20* thereby providing a ledge 34 extending. outwardly from; the outer side of the housing 33. The housing 33 is constructed in dome-shape, being substantially semi-elliptical in vertical section. housing: 33 hasan entrance by means; of which be had to: the interior. of. the. housing. The entrance 35 is formed by a pair of side. walls it which are; vertical and. in parallelism and which extend outwardly from the housing. 33-

A top walk 31.: is commuted to the upper ends of the entrance.- side.- walls 36 and; anupwardly extending or ledge 38- is formed at the forward end of the top wall 31,. so as; to provide anneans for retaining dirt orotherlnose material on: tineupper side: of the top wall. It. A. forwardly extending plate 39 is: formed integral with the bottomwall 3G and extends forwardly from the entrance 3%.. A pair of triangulariy-shaped sidewalls 4% are disposed in upstanding relation .1,

with respect to the plate 39 and-extend forwardly item the entrance. side walls A door 4| is hingedly mounted at thef-orward end; or entrance 3G and is disposed at the rear of the triangular side, walls 4%.. The tri- 1 This bemmembers. 43 are preferahly'ccmstructed of an.- upper longitudinally bent I beam 43 and a lower lnngitmilzimally bent or curved I beam 424; The beams 53: and M havetheweb 45 thereof vertical and this Web is prefierably formed. with a plurality f p n (6 through which the plastic conmteis adapted lo-engage... The beams 43 andv 4 may be formed in any suitable mannet, such as by rollinm. fabrication or the like. The lower end or the beam 43 overlaps the upper end of. the beam 4* as shown more clearly in Figure 8. These overlapping beam ends are tied together by means of a tie' plate 41' which engages. the bottom flanges of the beams 48 and 44. The plate 4 may be formed as an angle plate having a depending side 43 which extends downwardly from the: beams 43 and 44. The plate 41 is provided with a of spaced apart openings 59 and U within which L-shaped clamping members 5k and 52. are adaptedto engage.- The cl members 5| and. 53 are of like consanction, and each includes anupper side 53 engaging in. one of. the Opening: of the web 45 of an I-beanr, and. the opposite side 54 of the clampin: member it extends downwardly through an opening 49 and extends below the tie plate 41'.

The

-disposed cylindrical sleeve 57.

The depending side 54 of the clamping member 5| is formed with a transversely disposed elongated slot 55 within which wedge 56 is adapted to engage. The wedge 56 at its upper side is adapted to bear against the bottom side of the tie plate 41, and the lower inclined edge of the wedge 55 bears against. the lower end of the slot 55;. In this manner, the; tie plate 41 may be securely fastened to each ofthe overlapping ends of the beams 43 and 44. The upper ends of the radial beams 42 are secured as by Welding or other suitable fastening means to a centrally The sleeve 51 is substantially longer than the height of each beam member 43, so that a portion of the sleeve 51 will extend downwardly below the concrete after setting of therconorete, and will also extend upwardly trom the, upper side of the concrete, as shown more clearly in Figure 6. The sleeve 51 provides a ventilating opening by means of which the interior of the htlflsim; 43 may; be; properly ventilated.

The lower endS of the: lower: beam members 4.4 are; secured asv by welding or other suitable fastending means: to an. angler-shaped base mem. her it which is. circular in configuration and extends; entirely about the: lower end of. the housmg as. Theangleimemher 58 has avertical side 59 bearing against the inner side of each. lower beam member 44,. and the lower lmrizonta-L side 61! of the: angle member- 58- forms a metal base which rests on the upper side of the bottom wall 2 3;.

An upstanding: tubular member; Git rises. from the upper side or? the housing 331 and. at its. lower and; encompasses: the, sleeve 51. The tubular member constitutes: an droot, and includes an inner cylindrical jacket. 62.. outer. jacket: 63 and means 54' disposed between the two. jackets i2. and 53.. A bottom wa l]; 65. con nects the lower endsv of. the; inner and outer jackets 52 and 33;. and: a. top 66 connects the upper ends: or. the two iackets' 622 and. t3. Fastening mans fill emzaee through; the jackets 82 and. 83, and also engagethrough thezupper end portion of the-sleeve- 51:.

A ventilating hoodl structure; generally designaked as; 68. is secured, to; the upper end of the duct El. bond 88 includes a cylindrical sleeve 63 which: at its lower end. engages.- within the duct. 6t, and. is secured therein by fastening d'evicesftill. An inverted: cup-shaped hood membe: H is secured to the. upper end portion of the sleeve 69, being 0t: a diameter Substantially greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve 59 and secured to the sleeve 63 by means or a. pluralllty' of radially disposed. webs 12.. An annular flashing member. 13 is secured. to the outer side of the sleeve 83 and: engages; a-lmuttv the upper end portion of. thedm-t ,so, thatwater or; other fluid will be prevented from entering the duct 6|.

In ormr; to provide a. means; whereby any electricity, such as lightning or static: electricity,

may be grounded and. thereby dissipated. I have provided a metallic; electrical discharge rod 14 which extends upwardly iron the; top wall 15 of the hood 11.. The rod :4 extends, downwardly through the interior of. the ventilating hood member 68 and is secured at the lower end 16 thereof on one of they hastening members 81, so that there will be a; direct or electrical connection between the. electrical discharge member 14 and the material reinforcing beams 42.

The beams or reinforcing membezn 43 are. tied together against circumferential movement by tubular bracing member I00.

means of a plurality of annular reinforcing rods or members 11 which engage on the upper sides of the beams 42, and which are welded or otheriwise fixedly secured to the beams 42. The reinforcing members -II also provide a reinforcing means between the beams 42 for reinforcing the concrete of which the housing 33 is formed.

The housing 39 is constructed by initially disposing an inner dome-shaped form, generally designated as 18 on the upper side of the floor or bottonrwall 26. Theinner form l3 includes a lower form member "I9 and an upper form member-'89. The form member 89 at its lower edge forms a continuation of the loweriorm' I9,

and if desired, maybe formed as an integralpart of the lower form member 19. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart upright bracing members 8| are disposed interiorly of the form 73, and each bracing member includes a vertically disposed leg 82 which is secured at its lower end to a horizontal base angle-member 83. Anupwardly and outwardly inclined bracing member 84 is secured at its lower end to the connecting member 83 and secured at its upper end as by welding or the like to a plate 85. .The vertical leg 82 is also secured as by welding or other suitable fastening means to the plate 85. An intermediate connecting member 86 is connected at the opposite ends thereof to the bracing members 82 and 84.

An angle plate 8'1 is secured as by bolts 33 to the upper end of the plate 85 and bears against the lower sides of the overlapping portions'of the beam members 43 and M. The central portion of the inner form 78 is supported bymeans of a central post 89 which is preferably of tubular construction. The post or upright bracing member 89 at its lower end issecured to a base plate 99 having a bar 9| secured thereto and formed with slots 92 for adjustably receiving securing bolts 93. A vertically disposed rod or bar 94 is embedded in the bottom wall 29 in the axial center thereof and extends upwardly through an opening 95 formed in the bottom plate 90.

The post 89 at its upper end hassecured thereto a collar. or sleeve 96. Th sleeve or'collar 96 has secured thereto a plurality ofcircumierentially spaced apart eyemembers 9! with which the upper ends of a plurality of circumferentially arranged angled bracing members 38 adapted to be secured. v

The bracing members 98are constructed .of an upper tubular bracing member 99 and a lower The'two bracing membersSS'and I are connected together by means of a threaded sleeve iIlI having handles are I92, and preferably, the adjacent ends of the bracing members 99 and H38 are provided. with right and left hand threads, so that adjustment of the sleeve or nut IilI will increase ordecrease the length of a bracing member 38. The lower end of the lower bracing Imember. I09 is secured as by a fastening member I93 to'a base plate IM secured by fastening members I95 to the bottom wall 28. In practice there are three of the bracing members 98 secured to the post 89. An annular plate I is mounted onthe upper end of the collar or sleeve 95 and is formed at its upper side with a second plate IIII. having diameter less than the diameter of the plate 198, and of sufficient diameter to engage within the sleeve 5'1. If desired, the .top plate I9? may be welded'or formed integral with the plate I06. The inside form I8 is provided with an opening I98 within which the sleeve 51 engages and the I 'wardly spaced relation to the inner lower. form I9 and is. of a height substantially equal to the height of the inner form IS. The lower edge of the outer form I09 is adapted to rest on the upper side of the bottom wall In order to provide a means whereby the plastic concrete may be discharged between the two forms I9 and I09 and on the upper side of the upper form 80, I have provided a frame structure generally. designated as H0. The frame structure H0 as shownin Figures 4 and 4A is' constructed of two pairs of outwardly divergent channel-shaped beams III and H2. The beams III and H2 are of longitudinally arcuate configuration and have the channel sides thereof in confronting relation. The upper or inner convergent ends of the beams I I I and I l 2 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to an upper longitudinally arcuate plate H3. The construction of the frame structure is the same on each side of the upper, plate H3 and the description of one side of the frame structure will apply equally as well to the description of the other side of the frame. I

The two channel members I I I are connected together by a plurality of crossed or intersecting bracing bars H4 which are welded or otherwise fixedly'secured to the lower flanges of the channel members I II. .Transversely extending bars H5 extend between the adjacent ends of the bracing members H4. The outer or lower ends of the channel members III are connected together by a bottom plate H6, and the plate I I6 has secured to the lower side thereof bolsters or bearing members II I.

Wheels I I8 are carried by'shafts I I9 journalled to the bolsters or bearings Ill and the wheels H8 are adaptedrto engage on the apron or ledge 34 which i disposed outwardly of the outer form I09. If desired; the frame structure comprising the pairs-of frame members III and H2 may be rotated about theiform member I09 by means of a power member I20 which is connected by gearing I 2| to the shaft I I9. While the power'member I20 is herein described as an electric motor or the like, this power member may be in the form of a handioperated power 'means, whereby the framerstructure may be manually rotated-during the filling and shaping of the plastic concrete'forming the housing 33. A plurality of vertically spaced apart plates I22 are secured between the outer lower portions of the channel members III constitute steps which terminate ata point slightly-above the outer edge of the outer lower form member I09. I The post 89 constitutes apivot member for the frame structure and preferably the upper end of the post or pivot'member 89 extends upwardly above, the sleeve 51 and has fixed there-to an annular race plate I23. I The plate Ilii opposes an upper race plate I24, and ball bearings I2 5 are interposed between the two plates I23 and 24.

A lower housing member I26 is disposed below the plate H3 and encloses the lower race plate I23.

pivot post 89. The plate II3 on the opposite longitudinal ed es thereof has fixed thereto opposed channel members I28 which are welded or otherwise fixed to the uppefside of the plate I I3 and extend at their opposite ends to a. point where the channel members vI! contact with the outer sides of the diannel members III and III.

A concrete receiving hopper, generally designoted as I30 is disposed above the plate I I3 and is open at its upper end. The hopper IN is provided with inclined opposed walls I31 having gains I32 imom'trolling the flow of plastic ccmcreme through discharge openings I38 formed in the walls Ill. The humor I" is provided with a flat wall I and a ring 135 is fixed to the lower side of the bottom well 134 and engages about the upper housing member III. in this manner, the lower end of the hopper I3. is held against movement relative "to the plate I43. The hopper 130 is held in upstanding posiln'on with respect to the frame stmctum by means of a plurality of outwardly and down wardly inclined guy wires or rods 13 which are secured at their upper ends to eyes "I carried by the hopper III) and one secured to eyes I38 fixed to the beams or channel members III and I12.

A pair of oppositely extending troughs I" and I40 are mounted between me pairs of channel members III and H2, and extend from a point adjacent the ring 135 downwardly and outwardly to a point spaced upwardly a slight distance from the upper edge of the outer form member I. The two troughs or diutes I3! and I are of lik menstruation, and each is constructed in the tom of a U-shaped trough c chute member shown more in Figure 7.

The bottom wall "I of each c'im'te is secured as by welding or other suitable fastening means to the bracing members III and H5 and the chut or trough I3! extends radially from the axial center of the hopper I30. The chute I39 is formed in one side wall I12 thereof with at least a pair of spaced apart openings I43. Agate I is pivotally inflamed as at 1 within the chute I39 at a point opposite from the opening 413. The gate I is to be swung lmbe'rally across the bottrmrwali III andmaybe secured as by detachable mstening means 8 to the side wall I42 in a position with the gate I inclined to the length of-the chute II! as shown in Figure 4. In this manner, a selected gate 1 may be swung across the clml'e 13! so as-to thereby mrect the plastic material from the chute or trough item the upper side cfthe inna- Iorm member 18. The position of :a. sale I across the chute or trough I will prevent the plastic conczrete from flowing out of the open lower end of the chute or trough I39.

In order to provide 1a. mean whereby the plastic concrete e on the upper sid or the inner form member I. may be leveted or smoothed 01!, one channel member of each pair of channel members III and II! hassecln'ed to the outer side thereof a screed plate H6 The screed plate I on the channel member 111 is disposed PDOSitely from the screed plate disposed on the outer side or a channel member H2. The screed plate I46 extends upwardly from substantially the upper edge of the outer form member I09 and may be bent obtusely to position the upper portion thereof along the outer side of a. channel member I2. as shown at I41. The upper end of the-screed extension 141 terminates at a point substantially in line with the axial center of the pivot or post member 89.

In carrying out the method of construction of the housing hereimbefore described, the radially arranged lormtudinal-ly ercuete reinforcing beams 42 are initially mounted on the upper side ofthefiooraandthepost securedinposition. The bracing members BI are also secured to the floor ll and to the beams 42. The inner form structure I8 is then put in position in spaced relation to the lower sides of flue beams 42. The outer form I is then positioned in outwardly spaced relation to the outer lower form I! leavingan openspoce at thelmpaendofthe outer frame member I69 within which the plastic concrete is adapted to be named :as it flows Irom the troughsor chutes "91nd i.

The concrete lsnourod mtothe hopper I30 and initially the frame structure I II is rotated with the gate members I in substantially parallel relation with the adjacent side wall I" of the chute or trough I38. The gates 43! may then be moved to on open posnnon to permit the concrete to flow into the chutes or troughs 18S and I. This plastic concrete will drop into thespace betwem the two forms I and I09. After this space has been filled with cmcrete th lowermost one of the gates I may be swung across the chute m, and a nmilar can: I44 swung across the lower portion of the chute or trough I40.

This gate I will than direct the plastic concrete onto the upper side of the inner appear form member M, at anoint above the outer form member I". The screed members 1 a will smooth the concrete as the frame strucwre .1" is and when *a sumcient amount of concretehas been discharged from the lower portion of the chute or trough I1! witntlse gate I in opera.- tive position. the next we I" above the lower gate may be moved to an operative position to provide for the discharge of Sthe plastic concrete in a higher position. This operation will continne until the entire tom 30 has been covered with concrete and the concrete smoothed by the several screed members 1.

After the concrete III! has set, the ventilator structure, lnduding'the tubular member I :wnd the hood, may be secured to the sleeve 51 alter the removal 01 the frame structure IN. with the ventilator structure imposition, the housing 33 is then adapted to be covered by dirt I50 to the desired depth, the dirt being flared out as at I51 about the lower portion of the housing 13. The increase in the depth of the dirt 151 about the lower portion or the housing 33 provides a means whereby in the overt any explosion should occur which would destroy the housing 33. the increased depth of the dirt Is shown at I51 will prevent the fragments of cmrcrete 1mm scattering to lateral points, whereas the substantially thin coating of dirt shown at IE! will permit the upper portion of the housing a to shatter and to be blown in a more vertical positim.

The housing structu e hereinbefore described has been designed particularly for the reception of explosives, mch as bombs, shells, powder or the like, and by providing a housing structure or magazine which is so constructed that it may be readily covered with dirt, the dirt covering the magazine may be sodded or otherwise provided with means for camoufiaging the magazine. By providing an improved method of constructing the magazine 'or housing hereinbeforedescr-ibed, the magazine or housing may be easily and quickly constructed at any desired point, and if desired, a number of these housings may be mounted in a group a slight distance from each other, so that an explosion in one housing will not affect an adjacent housing. This is accomplished by providing the greater depths of dirt, as shown at I5! about the lower portions of the housings, thereby providing a cushioning means to prevent the fragments of the housing from being thrown laterally or horizontally in an area close to the exploded housing. After the concrete has properly set, the interior form is removed and the exterior form also removed, so that the housin will appear as shown in Figure 3.

I claim:

1. The method of constructing a concrete dome-shaped structure which includes the initial formation of a circular bottom or floor, mounting a dome-shaped inner form on the floor, disposing an outer form about the inner form with the height of the outer form less than the inner 20 form, pouring the plastic concrete between the inner and outer forms, and finally pouring the concrete over the exposed portion of the inner form while at the same time subjecting the latter placed plastic concrete to a screeding operation. 2. The method of constructing a reinforced dome-shaped structure which includes the initial formation of a circular bottom or floor, supporting a spider-shaped metallic reinforcin structure from the floor, disposing an inner form below and interiorly of the reinforcing structure, disposing an outer form about the reinforcing structure which is of less height than the inner form, initially pouring plastic concrete between the inner and outer forms, and pouring plastic concrete upon the inner form above the outer form while simultaneously rotating a screed circumferentially of th structure and above the outer form to screed the latter placed concrete.

LOUIS PETER CORBETTA. 

